Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-03
BLACK
Rev Wing a Charge of Lar
ceny Against Il Reform-
ed This
Sensation in a California court---A
Story oftae Long Pas,

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. "A we'll
dressed individual about 40 years Of age
registered at the Palace hotel as J.. NJ.
House, OF Chicago. He appeared to have
considerable money, and to attaches Of
the hotel he said he was on his way to
Australia, he being q member Of the
American and Australian manufacturing
company, of Chicago. He paid his bills
promptly, and bought a ticket for
australia. He then paid his hotel bill
and was conveyed in a hack to the wharf,
where the steamer Mariposa was found
ready to deport on her voyage. He
placed his baggage on board, and, re-
turning to the wharf a short time after,
he was surprised to see Detective Silyey,
who, exhibiting a warrant, arrested him
on an embeZzlement charge preferred by
n Samuel Nathan, and conveyed him to
the city prison. House was very indig-
nant at the arrest, claiming that he was
the victim of a conspiracy. He demanded
that Judge Hornblower examine wit
nesses as to the legality Of the warrant.
The court, Notwithstanding the object
ions of the attorney for the prosecution,
determined to give the suspected man a
fair show, and ordered the complainant,
Samuel Nathan, to the witness-stand.
The complainant stated that about Au-
gust, 1880, he had purchased a gold
watch and chain. "The watch,'' con-
tinued he, was taken from my store by
defendant, who vas a thief, then known
as Julien Mailhouss. He offered to sell
1t for me, and said he could get $3.50 for
it. Igaye it to him and he said he would
return in an hour. Instead of doing SO he
went to Chicago, and I never saw him
again until Thursday, when I met him on
Kearney street. | then told him to give
up my property or settle in some way, but
he refused and / had him arrested
Detective Hogan being called to testify
asto Nathan's character, pronounced him
to be a "go-between for thieves and
crooked men generally
The testimony of j. NJ. House, alias
Mailhouse, produced a sensation in court.
He assembled the stand with alacrity, and,
throwing himself back, said, as he pointed
to Nathan: There's no use of DENYING
it. / was once a thief, and I operated
with that man and another pal named
Hugh Geary. This watch referred to was
stolen by Geary at Amaleda baths Aug.
j, 1880. All three Of us went over there
solely for the purpose of deprecating on
the honest portion of the community.
Geary picked the watch, and of course
ons-third Of the swag belonged to me.
Nathan took possessis n of the watch, but
] got it afterward and blew it in on poker
at a room on the corner OF Market and
kearney street. Ithen went to Chicago,
where ! have lived ever since. | am now
an honest man, and this Nathan has
trumped up this charge for the purpose of
bleeding me.n
The court took the case under advise
ment, and released Mailhouse on $3.50
bail
The sell, confessed criminal showed let
tiers and papers proving that for the past
seven years he has not only been an hon
est man but has made considerable
money in legitimate business, the exact
nature of which he would not divulae,
for the reason that if the news should
reach his association at Chicago it would
ruin him. He left very bitter toward
Nathan for his conduct, and termed him
"a scoundral and thief, too lew even to
kick. His personal appearance is that
Of q man well to do. He wore a diamond
ring aid stud. Now that his steamer has
gone he says he will fight Nathan to the
bitter end.
AS regards Nathan, Detective Hogan
fully supported Milehouse's statements
concerning him. He termed him a mis-
cradle wretch who had grown moderately
wealthy by handling stolen goods. The
case has awakened great interest among
detectives, and it seems that Mailhou.e
has the sympathy of most of them.
As soon as the case was called the at
torney for the complaining witness stated
that he wanted to Introduce witnesses to
prove Nathan's good character. In re-
Spouse counsel for the defense said that
the effort was being made to use the
court to Cypress the honest man, and
that the object of prosecutors was to
make Mailhouse a victim of blackmail
and compel him to disgorge money. His
prosecutors were s'rotten TO the core,'
and there was no justice in having q man
of such reputation appear against q
person who had reformed. He asked that
the charge be dismissed, as there was no
evidence to prove embezzlement.